It’s red alert as cholera hits city

Nairobi County health officials yesterday confirmed an outbreak of cholera in the capital after five cases were reported at a city hospital. Health executive Dr Bernard Muai said treatment centres had been set up to mitigate the situation.

He said the patients are suspected to have contracted the disease from their kin who had travelled from Western to attend a wedding in Karen over the weekend.

Three other people are alleged to have succumbed to the disease, however, the executive said he was not aware of any reports of fatalities. “I’m not aware of any fatalities although we have gone back to the drawing board following cholera outbreak in the city,” said Dr Muia.

Health chief officer Sam Ochola added that the laboratory result confirmed the bacterium vibro cholerae. Dr Muia said City Hall is working with various organisations to contain the situation and prevent further spread of the disease. Speaking at City Hall, Muia said the county is on high alert and urged those who attended the wedding to go for testing.

“The county surveillance team is on the ground monitoring the situation and trying to get the guest list of those who attended the ceremony,” he said, adding that seven treatment centres had been set up in Mbagathi, Mama Lucy, Mathare North, Kibera, Bahati, South B and Umoja One.